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Under a winter storm watch Alert issued for DeKalb County as season’s first snow event approaches By BRETT ROWLAND browland@shawmedia.com DeKALB – With the first winter storm of the season forecast to bring DeKalb County up to 7 inches of snow this weekend, public works crews and emergency responders are reminding residents to be prepared and use caution on the road. A fast-paced low-pressure system will sweep in from the
Rockies this afternoon and approach northern Illinois by the evening, according to a winter storm watch issued by the agency’s Romeoville station. “It’s going to snow,” meteorologist Kevin Donofrio said. “I certainly would not commit to amounts, but it is going to snow. And it’s going to accumulate and the roads will be slick.” Initially, ground tempera-
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minded residents to use extra caution on the road. The first Text the word DCNEWS to 74574 to subscribe to Daily Chronicle break- snowfall of the season usually sends many drivers off ing news text alerts. Message and data rates apply. the roadways, DeKalb Police Department Community Relations Officer Chad McNett tures will limit snow accumu- wraps up Saturday afternoon, said. lation when the storm begins the watch warns 4 to 7 inch“It’s like a crash-up derby about 6 p.m. today. However, es could be on the ground in out there,” he said. “We alDonofrio said the snow will DeKalb, as well as Winneba- ways forget how to drive in the pile up quickly in the over- go, Boone, Lake, Ogle, Lee, snow.” night hours Friday into Sat- McHenry and Kane counties. McNett reminded drivers urday. By the time the storm DeKalb police officials re- to plan ahead, drive slowly
Years of screening for Syrian refugees
and allow two to three times as much stopping distance. Motorists also should check their vehicle’s tire pressure, washer fluid level and make sure to fill up the gas tank. Sycamore police Cmdr. Steve Cook had similar advice. “We’re cautioning people to try to minimize travel and be aware that it has the potential to be pretty bad, but we’ll just
See WATCH, page A5
3RD ANNUAL RAPE AGGRESSION DEFENSE TRAINING COURSE
By JEFF KAROUB and SOPHIA TAREEN The Associated Press DETROIT – Over and over, Nedal Al-Hayk and his wife traveled up to three hours by bus from their temporary home in Jordan to an office where U.S. Homeland Security officials put them in separate rooms and asked them many questions in many different ways: Where were you born? Where were your parents born? Were you part of a rebel group? Were you politically outspoken? Finally, nearly three years after the Syrian couple fled their war-ravaged homeland, they and their two young children arrived in the Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills, ready to start a promising new life in a new country. “I came here to succeed and have a quality of life, not to be a hindrance to the government and the citizens of America,” the 28-year-old Al-Hayk said through a translator. He is working at a factory and studying English with hopes of pursuing the agricultural engineering degree he started in Syria. “Even if I need to start over, I’ll start over.” As some governors, lawmakers and presidential candidates vow to block the resettlement of more Syrian refugees in the U.S. for fear that terrorists will slip into the country and carry out Paris-style attacks, those who have made it here describe an arduous screening process that they would not have undergone if they didn’t want to make America their permanent home. “They are human beings and human beings with no home,” said AlHayk, who arrived in the U.S. seven
Photos by Monica Synett – msynett@shawmedia.com
DeKalb police detective and Rape Aggression Defense instructor Paul Mott straps a safety helmet onto Dominique Smith as volunteer RAD aggressor Ryan Fisher waits to act out a scenario in a self-defense suit as part of an annual RAD women’s self-defense class Thursday at the DeKalb Police Department.
Personal protection DeKalb police conduct annual self-defense courses By BRITTANY KEEPERMAN bkeeperman@shawmedia.com
See REFUGEES, page A5
AP photo
Syria refugee Nedal Al-Hayk listens during an interview in Warren, Mich. AlHayk was resettled in suburban Detroit with his family after a three-year wait.
Venora Head (left) practices self-defense on volunteer RAD aggressor Ryan Fisher as part of an annual women’s self defense class Thursday at the DeKalb Police Department.
DeKALB – Agnieszka Misiak works until 10:30 p.m. most nights and has to walk from the bus stop to her apartment, which can feel sketchy. The senior student at Northern Illinois University decided to take a class hosted by the DeKalb Police Department this week, to brush up on her self-defense tactics. “I took the class through NIU and I really liked it,” she said. “I like to learn the moves and what to do. I kind of walk with my cellphone out a lot too, so if someone grabs it, I know what to do,” DeKalb police hosted its third annual free Rape Aggression Defense training this week for women in DeKalb. A total of 14
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Field trip
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NIU host STEM Read program field trip in Maple Park / A3
Annexation accord between Hinckley, builder will expire / A4
State of the City address is hosted by Genoa / A4
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participants took the three-day course, which is intended to teach the basics of self-defense. Instructors run through basic striking and blocking techniques and allow students a chance to practice against an assailant in a protective suit during a variety of different scenarios, such as being attacked when taking money out of the ATM with their backs turned or fending off unwanted physical contact. Classroom instruction also is involved. “The first day is more of a lecture,” DeKalb detective Paul Mott, who led the class, said. “What we do is teach them about the crime triangle which includes a victim, an assailant and an opportunity. A lot of what we teach is about taking out the opportunity.”
See DEFENSE, page A5
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